Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Diamond Sky’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Diamond Sky’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; strong and slightly elongated leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; white-colored flowers with yellow-colored labellum and a small number purple-colored spots surrounding the column; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DIAMOND SKY’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR and APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Floricultura B. V. of Heemskerk, The Netherlands on Mar. 18, 2021, application number 2021/0828. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Diamond Sky’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nantou, Taiwan and Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new fast-growing and freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and large flowers with unique and attractive patterns and coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination on May 27, 2014 in Nantou, Taiwan of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Harck Pearl’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Nankung's 4.55 pm’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in August, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlands since August, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Diamond Sky’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Diamond Sky’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Strong and slightly elongated leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. White-colored flowers with yellow-colored labellum and a         small number purple-colored spots surrounding the column.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Harck Pearl’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Harck Pearl’ in flower color as plants of the new Phalaenopsis have white-colored flowers with yellow-colored labellum and a small number purple-colored spots surrounding the column whereas plants of ‘Harck Pearl’ have white-colored flowers with a large number of purple-colored spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Nankung's 4.55 pm’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Nankung's 4.55 pm’ in flower color as plants of the new Phalaenopsis have white-colored flowers with yellow-colored labellum and a small number purple-colored spots surrounding the column whereas plants of ‘Nankung's 4.55 pm’ have white-colored flowers with a larger number of purple-colored spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Big Time’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Big Time’ in flower shape as the curvature of the lateral lobe of the lip of plants of the new Phalaenopsis is much less than the curvature of the lateral lobe of the lip of plants of ‘Big Time’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Diamond Sky’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Diamond Sky’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the first twelve months of production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 27° C. During the final six months of production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. During the production of the plants, light levels ranged from a minimum of 5,000 lux to a maximum of 10,000 lux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Diamond Sky’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Harck Pearl’, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Nankung's 4.55 pm’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks             at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to             30° C.         -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous; typically light yellowish             white in color; actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             14.8 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 35.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 38 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             six leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 14.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Aspect.—Uptight to slightly outwardly arching.         -   Shape.—Oblong to narrowly obovate; slightly carinate.         -   Apex.—Unequal obtuse.         -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: About 2.3 cm. Sheath width:             About 1.3 cm. Sheath color: Close to 144B.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation,             close to NN137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A to 146B; venation, close to 143A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two             inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about             twelve flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching             inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with             three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal             transformed into a labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about six months             after planting; plants flower naturally during the winter             into the spring.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about seven weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 27.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 14 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm by             1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to a blend of             145A and 150A; distally, close to N144D.         -   Flower size.—About 7.8 cm (vertical) by 8.3 cm (horizontal).         -   Flower depth.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 5.1 cm.             Shape: Reniform; slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse to rounded.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous, slightly velvety; matte.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155C; towards             the base, close to 187B and 187C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 155C; towards the margins and apex, close             to NN155C; and towards the base, close to N187D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; towards the base,             close to N79C and 187C; venation, close to NN155D; color             does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D; towards the base, close to             N187D; venation, close to NN155D; color does not change with             subsequent development.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Three-parted with two lateral lobes and             a central lobe. Length, lateral lobes: About 1.7 cm. Width,             lateral lobes: About 1.2 cm. Length, central lobe: About             2.7 cm. Width, central lobe: About 9 mm to 19 mm. Shape,             lateral lobes: Obovate. Shape, central lobe: Ovate to             roughly deltoid. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central             lobe: Broadly retuse with two recurved cirrose tips, about             1.5 cm in length and about 1.6 mm in width. Margins, lateral             and central lobes: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte.             Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and             attachment point of the lateral petals; about 4 mm in             length, about 6 mm in width and about 5 mm in height. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D;             basal margin, close to 2B; and at the base, close to 187B.             Central lobe: Close to 154B and 1B; towards the apex, close             to NN155D; apical margin, close to 164A; cirrose tips, close             to NN155D; and at the base, close to N186C and 187B to 187C.             Callosities: Close to 4C to 4D; distally, close to N186C.             When opening, lower surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155C;             basal margin, close to 2A; and at the base, tinged with             close to N187D to lighter than N187D. Central lobe: Close to             157C to 157D; towards the apex, close to NN155C; margins,             tinged with close to 154B and 154C; apical margin, close to             164A; cirrose tips, close to NN155C; and at the base, close             to lighter than N187D. Fully opened, upper surface: Lateral             lobes: Close to NN155D; basal margin, close to 13B; and at             the base, close to 187A to 187B. Central lobe: Close to 9B;             towards the apex, close to NN155C; apical margin, close to             164B with fine dots, close to 166B; cirrose tips, close to             NN155C; and at the base, close to N186C and 187B to 187C.             Callosities: Close to 11A; distally, close to a blend of             N186C and 200C. Fully opened, lower surface: Lateral lobes:             Close to NN155C; basal margin, close to 12B; and at the             base, tinged with close to N77C and N77D. Central lobe:             Close to 155A; towards the apex, close to NN155C; margins,             tinged with close to 7D; apical margin, close to 164A;             cirrose tips, close to NN155C; and at the base, close to             N187D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, one upper dorsal             sepal and two lower lateral sepals. Length, dorsal sepal:             About 4.5 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 3.8 cm. Length,             lateral sepals: About 4.5 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About             3.4 cm. Shape, dorsal sepal: Broadly elliptic. Shape,             lateral sepals: Ovate. Apex, dorsal sepal: Obtuse to             rounded. Apex, lateral sepals: Obtuse. Base, dorsal and             lateral sepals: Truncate. Margin, dorsal and lateral sepals:             Entire. Texture and luster, dorsal and lateral sepals, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety;             matte. Color, dorsal sepal: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 157D; occasionally with one to three large dots,             close to 187A and 187B. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 150C; towards the margins and apex, close to 157B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; occasionally with             one to three large dots, close to 187B and 187C. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B to NN155C; towards             the margins and apex, close to NN155D; occasionally with one             to three large dots, close to N79D. Color, lateral sepals:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 157A; towards the             base, close to 145C with dots, close to 187B and 187C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 150B; towards the margins             and apex, close to 150D; towards the base, dots, close to             187C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; towards             the base, close to 145D and 157A with dots, close to N186D             and 187B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145C and             145D; towards the margins and apex, close to NN155B; towards             the base, dots, close to N79D and N187C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 44.4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly arching.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to             144C; dense fine dots, close to 147A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 144C; distally, close to 150D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 9 mm.             Column width: About 7 mm. Column color: Close to NN155B.             Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two             pollinia): About 2.25 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 17B.             Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 4 mm. Stigma width: About             6 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to 155C.             Ovary length: About 9 mm. Ovary diameter: About 1 mm. Ovary             color: Close to 149C to 149D. Seeds and fruits: To date,             seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants             of the new Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures about 40° C. and are suitable     for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Diamond Sky’ as illustrated and described. 